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CCB MEDIA PHOTOA training simulator like the one that will be used by the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program was on display Wednesday.

WEST BARNSTABLE – Cape Cod Community College signed a lease Wednesday with Plymouth Municipal Airport for its new Aviation Maintenance Technology program which starts in January.

Classes in the program begin on January 25 and the first class of 25 students is almost full, according to Aviation Maintenance Technology Office Administrator Sandy Roughan.

“When the lease was signed that’s when the ball really started rolling,” she said.

Roughan said it was back and forth whether the program would use the Barnstable Municipal Airport or Plymouth Municipal Airport.

“We didn’t want to go somewhere where it would be cost prohibitive for the children to go,” she said. “Plymouth was the best choice.”

The program will have two hangars at the airport in Plymouth, three classrooms, four instructors, a student retention specialist and success coach.

“We have everything in place for the students to succeed,” Roughan said.

Roughan said the program is drawing a lot of interest.

Students watched demonstrations of equipment and machines including robotics and 3D printers.

“We might be able to squeak in another class of 25 in the first round,” she said. “So we are working on the wait list for the second class.”

Roughan said the program has gotten a lot of support from the aviation community.

“We already have over $1 million in assets that have been donated to us to use in the program,” she said. “We have a 747 engine, two pipers. We have a Cessna.”

The program also found out Wednesday that it might be getting a helicopter for the students to work on.

In addition to signing a lease with the Plymouth Municipal Airport Wednesday, the college held an Engineering and Aviation Expo in the gymnasium.

Faculty from the school were on hand to discuss the college’s programs.

Simulations and demonstrations were also performed by dozens of vendors and included robotics, battle bots, and 3D printing demonstrations.

Hundreds of middle school and high school students were in attendance.

“The big benefit is getting high school and middle school level kids to have an understanding of what they could get right here at Cape Cod Community College versus having to go right to a four-year school,” said Dennis Miller, adjunct instructor in the Natural Science and Applied Technology Department.

Hundreds of students were on hand and lined up to see a state police helicopter which landed on the soccer fields at Cape Cod Community College.

Miller said the different demonstrations and simulators at the expo are part of the appeal for the high school students attending.

“Obviously robots, 3D viewing and solar panels are the kind of stuff that are flashy and gets them to understand that there is some technology, some engineering, and some math and science behind all of that,” Miller said. “If that’s where they are inclined then this might turn on a few light bulbs in their heads to say this is something I ought to look into as I’m moving into high school and on to college.”

Miller said engineering is touted as one of the most demanding fields of jobs available in the next 10 years.

“There’s lots of things going on as we baby boomers get older where we need support of biomedical engineering technology and robotics technology,” he said.

Students were also able to look inside a Massachusetts State Police helicopter that landed on the soccer field.

Pilot John Pina and Tactical Flight Officer Kevin Kaupp, both troopers with the state police out of Plymouth, were on hand for about an hour with the helicopter to show the mechanics of vehicle.

The state police have four helicopters that are “mission ready,” they said.